Oregon Media Insiders

Firstly, my thoughts and prayers go out to the families in this horrible tragedy. I can't even begin to imagine. I’ve vacationed in Gearhart and it’s a very quaint coastal community. One would never figure that such tragedy would befall such a peaceful setting.

Secondly, in my opinion the coverage on local TV has been very tasteful and not over the top. The stations I've watched (KATU, KGW and KPTV) have done a very good job of covering the story without taking the macabre route.

KATU seem to be taking a break while KPTV and KGW were doing the story. As always KGW was out there with over used drama and a live aerial view of the site showing the split screen. The other half was the news conference. KPTV did a great job with sticking to the point,doing the news conference. and every now and then showing some pictures a viewer sent in KATU showed pictures a neighbor sent in as well as folowed KPTV's formatt.. Funny thing is the guy talking in the news conference wants to see those pictures because he didnt know how or when they showed up. He should know people have cameras now adays and send in stuff to the news stations.

Koin didnt seem to be doing anything. They still were airing soap operas when others were showing the reports.

KPTV - 1st (I liked how the segment was well layed out, stuck to the point, no over used drama)
KGW - 2ed (some over used drama in my opinion. but still did an over all good job.)
KATU- 3rd (Taking a break in the middle of the news. Of course I didnt find this out till at least 1pm, so I dont know how long all the stations were covering this)
KOIN - 4th (NO LIVE COVERAGE = f - )

Leave those poor people alone. The hovering helicopters, the braying satellite trucks, the hounding reporters. The situation was bad enough without the television crews creeping about.

I understand that without a lot of information, news orgs have to latch on to whatever they can, but I found the coverage I saw on all four channels to be pretty generic. Don't understand the speculation about the weather, it's not like the house was 50 feet tall and regardless of the conditions, planes have altimeters showing their altitude. Are we to assume the plane just didn't see the house?
It's an odd story, but if I had a nickel for every time I heard "close-knit community" or "wouldn't expect something like this to happen here" today, I'd be able to buy a six pack of Rogue. Why do stations continue to air soundbites like these?

so sad about the plane crash. the family is in my prayers.

I need to defend the news coverage. I live in the area and ast year I lost my 16 year old son Elliott in Cannon Beach to a riptide; as everything was happening on the beach there was a lot of activity and coverage. I was so focused on what the search and rescue, fire department and coast guard was doing that I didn't even notice it.

The next day when the news crews asked for interviews they were tasteful, kind and made it very short. We were able to get the facts out quickly and to many more people than I had the energy to speak with while we were still in shock and mourning his loss.

The coastal communites here are without question very kind,protective and supportive when this type of thing happens. I know that many local fire departments worked hard together to assist this family in everyway they could. The coroner in the area is also wonderful. She can take a nightmare and help you through it with grace and compassion.

There will never be a "right" way to report this kind of tragedy. It never makes sense. How can it? I was just glad to get the information quickly. I have friends who were assisting on site and I know how much heart and soul they put into these situations.

Thanks for listening
Cynthia (Elliott's mom)

Did you see KATU's 11pm?
Steve Dunn anchored from the field. Almost ten minutes of in-depth coverage. By far the best of the day.

To Elliott's Mom:

We visit here every year (were here for the plan crash) and we were here last year when you suffered your unimaginable tragedy. Thank you for letting us know that our need to have information isn't always a horrible intrusion. I thought about you last summer and continued to think about you throughout the year. I will think about the families of these people as well. You live in a wonderful community, for what that's worth, and our prayers go out to you all.

To those offended by comments, I'm not making light of the tragedy. My heart goes out to those affected. My point is that the phrase "close-knit community" and "you wouldn't expect something like this to happen here" are cliches and if anything, diminish tragedies that take place in less close-knit communities. I hear phrases like the above and as a viewer, it doesn't tell me anything unique.
I know these tragedies are tough to cover, I know because I've covered them, and you try and stay out of the way of the emergency workers and rely on witnesses and neighbors to get information, I just wish tragedies such as these weren't treated with a one-size fits all approach.
And I thought the interviews with the families and the homeowner were very well done.